Themes and message

Identity and growing up

The main theme of Kate London’s short story “We Do Not Deal in Guilt or Blame” is identity and growing up. The theme is explored through the narrator’s journey of making her own way in life and breaking free from an unhealthy relationship. The narrator escapes her traditional family only to enter into a relationship with an older man who seems to know more about the world than she does.

At the beginning of the story, the narrator is frustrated with her current situation: “I was interested in myself! I had a powerful wish to be somebody. (…) ‘I live with you in this flat. I’ve just got a tiny shelf for my things. My career is going nowhere!’ ” (ll. 25-27). This shows that the narrator is trying to figure out who she is and what her path in life is. 

Over the course of the short story, the narrator tries differe...